There were some concerns that the recent warm spell might cause some delays, but players were able to take to the ice Friday. Organizers said they had to close some rinks, but they were able to get the tournament under way.

"Yesterday, the ramp wasn't even frozen, and we were, like, the second truck on the ice, so it was kind of nerve-wracking," said vendor Devan Peopolo. "We had the door open getting ready to jump just in case the ice falls through."

The tournament was the brainchild of Scott Crowder, whose motto for the tournament is, "Hockey the way it used to be."

"I hope everybody that is down here is having some fun with their friends playing outdoor hockey because that's really what this event is all about," Crowder said.

In the first year of the tournament, there were 77 teams. There are now more than 200, and Crowder said there's room for growth.

"We probably had maybe 100 teams that wanted to sign up that weren't able to this year," he said.

The tournament draws teams from across North America, coming from as far away as British Columbia and Florida. Those who typically play indoors in a league said nothing compares to the experience of playing on the lake.

"It's being outside and just having a good time with friends," said Tony Chiocchio of the Tri-State Breweries. "You know, it's a great experience."

New England Pond Hockey Classic gets under way

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Pond Hockey Classic 1

Nearly 1,400 skaters take to the ice on Lake Winnepesaukee for the fourth annual tournament.